Chapter 7 - Pointers

Outline
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Pointer Variable Declarations and
Initialization
7.3 Pointer Operators
7.4 Calling Functions by Reference
7.5 Using the Const Qualifier with Pointers
7.6 Bubble Sort Using Call by Reference
7.7 Pointer Expressions and Pointer Arithmetic

7.8 The Relationship between Pointers and

Arrays
7.9 Arrays of Pointers
7.10 Case Study: A Card Shuffling and Dealing
Simulation
7.11 Pointers to Functions
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 7.1 Introduction

• Pointers
– Powerful, but difficult to master
– Simulate call-by-reference
– Close relationship with arrays and strings

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 7.2 Pointer Variable Declarations
and Initialization
• Pointer variables
– Contain memory addresses as their values
count
– Normal variables contain a specific value (direct
7
reference)
– Pointers contain address of a variable that has a
specific value (indirect reference)
countPtr count
7

– Indirection - referencing a pointer value

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 7.2 Pointer Variable Declarations
and Initialization (II)

• Pointer declarations
– * used with pointer variables
int *myPtr;
– Declares a pointer to an int (pointer of type int *)
– Multiple pointers, multiple *
int *myPtr1, *myPtr2;
– Can declare pointers to any data type
– Initialize pointers to 0, NULL, or an address
• 0 or NULL - points to nothing (NULL preferred)

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 7.3 Pointer Operators
• & (address operator)
– Returns address of operand
int y = 5;
int *yPtr;
yPtr = &y; //yPtr gets address of y
– yPtr “points to” y

y yptr y
5 500000 600000 600000 5
yPtr

Address of y
is value of
yptr

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 7.3 Pointer Operators (II)
• * (indirection/dereferencing operator)
– Returns a synonym/alias of what its operand points to
*yptr returns y (because yptr points to y)
– * can be used for assignment
• Returns alias to an object
*yptr = 7; // changes y to 7
– Dereferenced pointer (operand of *) must be an lvalue
(no constants)

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 7.3 Pointer Operators (III)

• * and & are inverses

– They cancel each other out

*&yptr -> * (&yptr) -> * (address of yptr)->

returns alias of what operand points to -> yptr

&*yptr -> &(*yptr) -> &(y) -> returns address of y,

which is yptr -> yptr

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 1 /* Fig. 7.4: fig07_04.c
2 Using the & and * operators */ Outline
3 #include <stdio.h>
4
5 int main()
6 { The address of a is the value
1. Declare
7 int a; /* a is an integer */ of aPtr. variables
8 int *aPtr; /* aPtr is a pointer to an integer */
9
10 a = 7; The * operator returns an
2 Initialize
11 aPtr = &a; /* aPtr set to address of a */ alias to what its variables
operand
12 points to. aPtr points to a,
13 printf( "The address of a is %p"
so *aPtr returns a.
14 "\nThe value of aPtr is %p", &a, aPtr ); 3. Print
15
16 printf( "\n\nThe value of a is %d"
17 "\nThe value of *aPtr is %d", a, *aPtr );
18
19 printf( "\n\nShowing that * and & are inverses of " Notice how * and
20 "each other.\n&*aPtr = %p" & are inverses
21 "\n*&aPtr = %p\n", &*aPtr, *&aPtr );
22
23 return 0;
24 }
The address of a is 0012FF88
The value of aPtr is 0012FF88

The value of a is 7
The value of *aPtr is 7
Proving that * and & are complements of each other. Program Output
&*aPtr = 0012FF88
*&aPtr = 0012FF88
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 7.4 Calling Functions by Reference
• Call by reference with pointer arguments
– Pass address of argument using & operator
– Allows you to change actual location in memory
– Arrays are not passed with & because the array name is already a
pointer

• * operator
– Used as alias/nickname for variable inside of function
void double(int *number)
{
*number = 2 * (*number);
}
*number used as nickname for the variable passed

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1 /* Fig. 7.7: fig07_07.c
2 Cube a variable using call-by-reference Outline
3 with a pointer argument */
4
5 #include <stdio.h>
6 Notice how the address of 1. Function
7 void cubeByReference( int * ); /* number */
prototype is given - prototype - takes a
8 cubeByReference expects a pointer to an int.
9 int main() pointer (an address of a variable).
10 { 1.1 Initialize
11 int number = 5; variables
12
13 printf( "The original value of number is %d", number );
14 cubeByReference( &number ); 2. Call function
15 printf( "\nThe new value of number is %d\n", number );
16 Inside cubeByReference,3. Define function
17 return 0; *nPtr is used (*nPtr is
18 } number).
19
20 void cubeByReference( int *nPtr )
21 {
22 *nPtr = *nPtr * *nPtr * *nPtr; /* cube number in main */
23 }

The original value of number is 5

The new value of number is 125 Program Output

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 7.5 Using the Const Qualifier with
Pointers
• const qualifier - variable cannot be changed
– Good idea to have const if function does not need to change a
variable
– Attempting to change a const is a compiler error
• const pointers - point to same memory location
– Must be initialized when declared
int *const myPtr = &x;
• Type int *const - constant pointer to an int
const int *myPtr = &x;
• Regular pointer to a const int
const int *const Ptr = &x;
• const pointer to a const int
• x can be changed, but not *Ptr

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1 /* Fig. 7.13: fig07_13.c
2 Attempting to modify a constant pointer to Outline
3 non-constant data */
4
5 #include <stdio.h> 1. Declare
6 variables
7 int main()
8 {
Changing *ptr is allowed - x is 1.1 Declare const
9 int x, y; pointer to an int.
not a constant.
10
11 int * const ptr = &x; /* ptr is a constant pointer to an
2. Change *ptr
12 integer. An integer can be modified
(which is x).
13 through ptr, but ptr always points
14 to the same memory location. */
2.1 Attempt to
15 *ptr = 7;
Changing ptr is an error - change ptr.
16 ptr = &y;
ptr is a constant pointer.
17
18 return 0; 3. Output
19 }

FIG07_13.c:
Error E2024 FIG07_13.c 16: Cannot modify a const object in
function main
Program Output
*** 1 errors in Compile ***

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 7.6 Bubble Sort Using Call-by-
reference
• Implement bubblesort using pointers
– Swap two elements
– swap function must receive address (using &) of array elements
• Array elements have call-by-value default
– Using pointers and the * operator, swap can switch array
elements

• Psuedocode
Initialize array
print data in original order
Call function bubblesort
print sorted array
Define bubblesort

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 7.6 Bubble Sort Using Call-by-
reference (II)
• sizeof
– Returns size of operand in bytes
– For arrays: size of 1 element * number of elements
– if sizeof(int) = 4 bytes, then
int myArray[10];
printf( "%d", sizeof( myArray ) );

will print 40
• sizeof can be used with
– Variable names
– Type name
– Constant values

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 1 /* Fig. 7.15: fig07_15.c
2 This program puts values into an array, sorts the values into Outline
3 ascending order, and prints the resulting array. */
4 #include <stdio.h>
5 #define SIZE 10
6 void bubbleSort( int *, const int ); 1. Initialize array
7
8 int main()
9 { 1.1 Declare
10 variables
11 int a[ SIZE ] = { 2, 6, 4, 8, 10, 12, 89, 68, 45, 37 };
12 int i; Bubblesort gets passed the
13 2. Print array
address of array elements
14 printf( "Data items in original order\n" );
15
(pointers). The name of an
16 for ( i = 0; i < SIZE; i++ ) array is a pointer. 2.1 Call bubbleSort
17 printf( "%4d", a[ i ] );
18 2.2 Print array
19 bubbleSort( a, SIZE ); /* sort the array */
20 printf( "\nData items in ascending order\n" );
21
22 for ( i = 0; i < SIZE; i++ )
23 printf( "%4d", a[ i ] );
24
25 printf( "\n" );
26
27 return 0;
28 }
29
30 void bubbleSort( int *array, const int size )
31 {
32 2000 Prentice
void swap(Hall,int
Inc. *,
All rights
int reserved.
* );
33 int pass, j;
34 for ( pass = 0; pass < size - 1; pass++ ) Outline
35
36 for ( j = 0; j < size - 1; j++ )
37 3. Function
38 if ( array[ j ] > array[ j + 1 ] ) definitions
39 swap( &array[ j ], &array[ j + 1 ] );
40 }
41
42 void swap( int *element1Ptr, int *element2Ptr )
43 {
44 int hold = *element1Ptr;
45 *element1Ptr = *element2Ptr;
46 *element2Ptr = hold;
47 }

Data items in original order

2 6 4 8 10 12 89 68 45 37 Program Output
Data items in ascending order
2 4 6 8 10 12 37 45

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 7.7 Pointer Expressions and Pointer
Arithmetic
• Arithmetic operations can be performed on
pointers
– Increment/decrement pointer (++ or --)
– Add an integer to a pointer( + or += , - or -=)
– Pointers may be subtracted from each other
– Operations meaningless unless performed on an array

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 7.7 Pointer Expressions and Pointer
Arithmetic (II)
• 5 element int array on machine with 4 byte ints
– vPtr points to first element v[0]
at location 3000. (vPtr = 3000)
– vPtr +=2; sets vPtr to 3008
• vPtr points to v[2] (incremented
by 2), but machine has 4 byte ints.

location
3000 3004 3008 3012 3016

v[0] v[1] v[2] v[3] v[4]

pointer variable vPtr

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 7.7 Pointer Expressions and Pointer
Arithmetic (III)

• Subtracting pointers
– Returns number of elements from one to the other.
vPtr2 = v[2];
vPtr = v[0];
vPtr2 - vPtr == 2.

• Pointer comparison ( <, == , > )

– See which pointer points to the higher numbered array
element
– Also, see if a pointer points to 0

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 7.7 Pointer Expressions and Pointer
Arithmetic (IV)

• Pointers of the same type can be assigned to each

other
– If not the same type, a cast operator must be used
– Exception: pointer to void (type void *)
• Generic pointer, represents any type
• No casting needed to convert a pointer to void pointer
• void pointers cannot be dereferenced

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 7.8 The Relationship Between
Pointers and Arrays
• Arrays and pointers closely related
– Array name like a constant pointer
– Pointers can do array subscripting operations

• Declare an array b[5] and a pointer bPtr

bPtr = b;
Array name actually a address of first element
OR
bPtr = &b[0]
Explicitly assign bPtr to address of first element

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 7.8 The Relationship Between
Pointers and Arrays (II)
• Element b[n]
– can be accessed by *( bPtr + n )
– n - offset (pointer/offset notation)
– Array itself can use pointer arithmetic.
b[3] same as *(b + 3)
– Pointers can be subscripted (pointer/subscript notation)
bPtr[3] same as b[3]

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 7.9 Arrays of Pointers
• Arrays can contain pointers - array of strings
char *suit[4] = {"Hearts", "Diamonds", "Clubs", "Spades" };
– String: pointer to first character
– char * - each element of suit is a pointer to a char
– Strings not actually in array - only pointers to string in array
suit[0] ’H’ ’e’ ’a’ ’r’ ’t’ ’s’ ’\0’

suit[1] ’D’ ’i’ ’a’ ’m’ ’o’ ’n’ ’d’ ’s’ ’\0’

suit[2] ’C’ ’l’ ’u’ ’b’ ’s’ ’\0’

suit[3] ’S’ ’p’ ’a’ ’d’ ’e’ ’s’ ’\0’

• suit array has a fixed size, but strings can be of

any size.

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 7.10 Case Study: A Card Shuffling and
Dealing Simulation
• Card shuffling program
– Use array of pointers to strings
– Use double scripted array (suit, face)

Ace Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Jack Queen King
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Hearts 0
Diamonds 1
Clubs 2
Spades 3

deck[2][12] represents the King of Clubs

Clubs King
– The numbers 1-52 go into the array - this is the order they are dealt

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 7.10 Case Study: A Card Shuffling and
Dealing Simulation
• Pseudocode - Top level:
First refinement
Initialize the suit array
Initialize the face array
Initialize the deck array
Shuffle the deck
Deal 52 cards
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Shuffle and deal 52 cards
Second refinement
Choose slot of deck randomly
For each of the 52 cards
Place card number in randomly
selected unoccupied slot of deck
For each of the 52 cards
Find card number in deck array
and print face and suit of card
Third refinement
While chosen slot of deck has been
previously chosen
Choose slot of deck randomly
Place card number in chosen slot of
deck
For each slot of the deck array
If slot contains card number
Print the face and suit of the
card
 1 /* Fig. 7.24: fig07_24.c
2 Card shuffling dealing program */ Outline
3 #include <stdio.h>
4 #include <stdlib.h>
5 #include <time.h>
6 1. Initialize suit
7 void shuffle( int [][ 13 ] ); and face arrays
8 void deal( const int [][ 13 ], const char *[], const char *[] );
9
10 int main() 1.1 Initialize deck
11 { array
12 const char *suit[ 4 ] =
13 { "Hearts", "Diamonds", "Clubs", "Spades" };
14 const char *face[ 13 ] = 2. Call function
15 { "Ace", "Deuce", "Three", "Four", shuffle
16 "Five", "Six", "Seven", "Eight",
17 "Nine", "Ten", "Jack", "Queen", "King" };
18 int deck[ 4 ][ 13 ] = { 0 }; 2.1 Call function
19 deal
20 srand( time( 0 ) );
21
22 shuffle( deck ); 3. Define functions
23 deal( deck, face, suit );
24
25 return 0;
26 }
27
28 void shuffle( int wDeck[][ 13 ] )
29 {
30 int row, column, card;
31
32 2000
forPrentice
( cardHall,=Inc.
1;All rights<=
card reserved.
52; card++ ) {
33 do {
34 row = rand() % 4; The numbers 1-52 are Outline
35 column = rand() % 13; randomly placed into the
36 } while( wDeck[ row ][ column ] != 0 ); deck array.
37 3. Define functions
38 wDeck[ row ][ column ] = card;
39 }
40 }
41
42 void deal( const int wDeck[][ 13 ], const char *wFace[],
43 const char *wSuit[] )
44 {
45 int card, row, column;
46
47 for ( card = 1; card <= 52; card++ )
48 Searches deck for the
49 for ( row = 0; row <= 3; row++ ) card number, then prints
50
the face and suit.
51 for ( column = 0; column <= 12; column++ )
52
53 if ( wDeck[ row ][ column ] == card )
54 printf( "%5s of %-8s%c",
55 wFace[ column ], wSuit[ row ],
56 card % 2 == 0 ? '\n' : '\t' );
57 
} 2000 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
 Six of Clubs Seven of Diamonds
Outline
Ace of Spades Ace of Diamonds
Ace of Hearts Queen of Diamonds
Queen of Clubs Seven of Hearts
Ten of Hearts Deuce of Clubs Program Output
Ten of Spades Three of Spades
Ten of Diamonds Four of Spades
Four of Diamonds Ten of Clubs
Six of Diamonds Six of Spades
Eight of Hearts Three of Diamonds
Nine of Hearts Three of Hearts
Deuce of Spades Six of Hearts
Five of Clubs Eight of Clubs
Deuce of Diamonds Eight of Spades
Five of Spades King of Clubs
King of Diamonds Jack of Spades
Deuce of Hearts Queen of Hearts
Ace of Clubs King of Spades
Three of Clubs King of Hearts
Nine of Clubs Nine of Spades
Four of Hearts Queen of Spades
Eight of Diamonds Nine of Diamonds
Jack of Diamonds Seven of Clubs
Five of Hearts Five of Diamonds
Four of Clubs Jack of Hearts
Jack of Clubs Seven of Spades

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 7.11 Pointers to Functions
• Pointer to function
– Contains address of function
– Similar to how array name is address of first element
– Function name is starting address of code that defines function

• Function pointers can be

– Passed to functions
– Stored in arrays
– Assigned to other function pointers

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 7.11 Pointers to Functions (II)
• Example: bubblesort
– Function bubble takes a function pointer
• bubble calls this helper function
• this determines ascending or descending sorting

– The argument in bubblesort for the function pointer:

bool ( *compare )( int, int )
tells bubblesort to expect a pointer to a function that takes two ints and
returns a bool.

– If the parentheses were left out:

bool *compare( int, int )
• Declares a function that receives two integers and returns a pointer to a bool

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 1 /* Fig. 7.26: fig07_26.c
2 Multipurpose sorting program using function pointers */ Outline
3 #include <stdio.h>
4 #define SIZE 10
5 void bubble( int [], const int, int (*)( int, int ) );
6 int ascending( int, int ); 1. Initialize array.
7 int descending( int, int );
8 Notice the function pointer
9 int main() parameter. 2. Prompt for
10 { ascending or
11 descending
12 int order, sorting.
13 counter,
14 a[ SIZE ] = { 2, 6, 4, 8, 10, 12, 89, 68, 45, 37 };
15 2.1 Put
16 printf( "Enter 1 to sort in ascending order,\n" appropriate
17 "Enter 2 to sort in descending order: " ); function pointer
18 scanf( "%d", &order );
into bubblesort.
19 printf( "\nData items in original order\n" );
20
21 for ( counter = 0; counter < SIZE; counter++ ) 2.2 Call bubble.
22 printf( "%5d", a[ counter ] );
23
24 if ( order == 1 ) { 3. Print results.
25 bubble( a, SIZE, ascending );
26 printf( "\nData items in ascending order\n" );
27 }
28 else {
29 bubble( a, SIZE, descending );
30 printf( "\nData items in descending order\n" );
31 }
32 2000 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
33 for ( counter = 0; counter < SIZE; counter++ )
34 printf( "%5d", a[ counter ] ); Outline
35
36 printf( "\n" );
37
38 return 0; 3.1 Define
39 } functions.
40
41 void bubble( int work[], const int size, ascending and descending
42 int (*compare)( int, int ) ) return true or false.
43 { bubble calls swap if the
44 int pass, count; function call returns true.
45
46 void swap( int *, int * );
47
48 for ( pass = 1; pass < size; pass++ )
49
50 for ( count = 0; count < size - 1; count++ )
51
52 if ( (*compare)( work[ count ], work[ count + 1 ] ) )
53 swap( &work[ count ], &work[ count + 1 ] );
54 }
Notice how function pointers
55 are called using the
56 void swap( int *element1Ptr, int *element2Ptr ) dereferencing operator. The *
57 { is not required, but emphasizes
58 int temp; that compare is a function
59 pointer and not a function.
60 temp = *element1Ptr;
61 *element1Ptr = *element2Ptr;
62 *element2Ptr = temp;
63 }
64 2000 Prentice Hall, Inc. All rights reserved.
65 int ascending( int a, int b )

66 { Outline
67 return b < a; /* swap if b is less than a */

68 }
3.1 Define
69 functions.
70 int descending( int a, int b )

71 {

72 return b > a; /* swap if b is greater than a */

73 }

Enter 1 to sort in ascending order,

Enter 2 to sort in descending order: 1 Program Output
Data items in original order
2 6 4 8 10 12 89 68 45 37
Data items in ascending order
2 4 6 8 10 12 37 45 68 89

Enter 1 to sort in ascending order,

Enter 2 to sort in descending order: 2

Data items in original order

2 6 4 8 10 12 89 68 45 37
Data items in descending order
89 68 45 37 12 10 8 6 4 2

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